Top 12 IT Career Stories of 2012

As 2012 winds down, it’s time to take one more look back at the year in IT careers. Articles on tech jobs are always among the most popular on CIO.com, but here is a list of the 12 most-read IT career articles of 2012. So before you get ready to celebrate the holidays, check out these 12 articles that focused on how and where to find the best IT jobs.

1. The Best Cities for Finding IT Jobs in 2012

With the help of three national IT staffing firms, CIO.com pinpointed eight U.S. cities that offer enterprising, mobile IT professionals the best chances of finding jobs. We also identified the industries in each of those markets that have the most openings, and the IT skills that organizations in those cities are seeking.

2. The World’s Best (and Worst) IT Cities to Work and Play

Despite all the economic and political strife in the world, the globe-trotting techie still has opportunities for working at home and abroad — and even take in an adventure! For every hot spot, however, there’s an evil twin nearby. Here are some cities that should tickle the traveling bone of IT pros, as well as cities in the same country to steer clear of.

3. 8 Recession-Proof IT Careers

With the current state of the economy, IT workers face a dog-eat-dog environment filled with downsizing, outsourcing and more. To help you stay in front of the pack, CIO.com spoke with Modis CEO, Jack Cullen, to shed light on what IT roles remain in steady demand.

4. 10 Best U.S. Cities for IT Jobs with Tech Startups

Tech startups have long attracted IT professionals to their payrolls, lured by the opportunity to work on cool projects with new technologies. If you’re seeking the thrill of startup life (and the prospect of IPO riches), head to one of the following 10 U.S. cities identified by PayScale as a hotspot for finding high-paying IT jobs with tech startups.

5. 5 LinkedIn Tips for Career Success in 2012

From sprucing up your profile to branding yourself as an expert, here’s how you can better use the professional social network to set you on the path to success.

6. 15 LinkedIn Tips to Improve Your Job Search

Having a LinkedIn profile is a great way to network with professionals as you begin your job hunt, but having an unfinished or poorly compiled profile can send the wrong signals to recruiters and potential employers.

7. 8 Best Cities to Find Cloud Computing Jobs

Looking for a new job in the growing cloud computing market? Open to a change of scenery? Get on the road to one of these 8 cities where cloud jobs are hottest.

8. How to Retool Your IT Skills for the Cloud

Cloud computing is transforming IT operations and management, but the transition for IT professionals doesn’t have to be difficult or daunting. Here, cloud computing experts explain how IT professionals can adapt their skillsets for the cloud and the impact cloud computing will have on five different IT jobs.

9. 10 Hot IT Skills for 2013

The number of companies planning to hire tech professionals continues to grow, with 33% of the 334 IT executives who responded to Computerworld’s 2013 Forecast survey saying they plan to increase head count in the next 12 months.

10. 8 Hiring Tips for Identifying Superstar Developers

Hiring a developer can be a make or break decision for your business–hiring the wrong one can ruin your project or end up costing you later. What can you do to cut through all the noise and spot the standouts from the stand-ins? Learn how to uncover the secrets of finding a ‘superstar’ developer.

11. 10 Time Management Tips for IT Professionals

Are you working through lunch every day, late to meetings or missing deadlines? Are your professional responsibilities interfering with your personal life? If you answered, yes, chances are your time management skills need some work. Step up your game by learning to reclaim some of the precious commodity of time.

12. 7 Hottest IT Healthcare Skills

With the compliance date for ICD-10 looming in 2014, demand for Healthcare IT (HIT) professionals is on the rise. Healthcare providers rushing to get their technology updated is generating new IT job opportunities within an already-growing market. CIO.com counts down the seven most in-demand skills for HIT.

Rich Hein is a senior writer for CIO.com. He covers IT careers. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline, on Facebook, and on Google +.